Meghan Markle followed royal protocol by wearing tights for her first engagement as a duchess — but it's dividing the internet

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at their first royal engagement as a married couple. Dominic Lipinski/WPA Pool/Getty Images

At her first official engagement after the royal wedding, Meghan Markle showed off her elegant style once again in a sheer dress and wide-brimmed hat.

But some people were more preoccupied with the fact that the duchess appeared to be wearing tights.

Many online were surprised by the arguably unexpected move, as Markle has previously gone bare-legged at appearances.

Others, who assumed the tights were supposed to look like "nude" stockings, criticized the pantyhose's color, arguing that it should have been a darker shade to match Markle's skin tone.

On Tuesday, at her first royal engagement as the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle showed off her elegant style once again in a sheer dress and wide-brimmed hat. The light pinkish-beige number, made by British brand Goat, was effortlessly chic, much like the duchess' royal wedding dresses from Saturday.

It was a fitting choice for the happy occasion at Buckingham Palace, which celebrated the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday later this year. But some people were more preoccupied with the fact that Markle appeared to be wearing tights.

After photos of the celebration surfaced online, social media was flooded with comments about the duchess' apparent decision to don a pair of pantyhose under her dress. Some were surprised by the arguably unexpected move, as Markle has previously gone bare-legged at appearances with Prince Harry — most notably at her first official royal photo opportunity in November, when the couple announced their engagement.

Others, who assumed the tights were supposed to look like "nude" stockings, criticized the pantyhose's color, arguing that it should have been a darker shade to match Markle's skin tone.

While Kensington Palace doesn't have an official stylebook on royal fashion, CNN's royal commentator Victoria Arbiter previously told INSIDER that wearing "nude" stockings is "really the only hard, steadfast rule in terms of what the queen requires."

After Markle and Harry posed for their official engagement photos in November, Arbiter said that the former actress, who did not appear to be wearing pantyhose, may have broken royal protocol.

Regardless, it's entirely possible that Markle decided to wear tights to Prince Charles' birthday celebration simply because she wanted to. The duchess, who has previously described her personal style as "classic and simple" with a modern twist, may also have intentionally worn the pale-colored tights to match her sheer pinkish-beige outfit for an overall seamless look.

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